$3000.00.
"Steve?" I asked. "What's this for?"
"For services rendered, of course."
"What do you mean?"
"It's not enough for you? I thought I was being generous. You're good, but not that good."
I sat at the table not knowing what the hell was going on.
Steve picked me up for lunch and brought me to this cafe on Santa Monica.
He seemed to have snapped out of whatever blue funk he was in. We joked and laughed all the way here. Then, while sipping my club soda he handed me the envelope.
Now, he put his hand on my knee and squeezed. "There's another fifty for you if you'll give me head right now in my car."
"This isn't funny."
"Sixty-five. That's my final offer."
"What...why are you doing this?"
He put down his glass of ale. "Oh my god. You thought that we were...dating? I'm sorry. You're not the first whore I've picked up who started believing I was some prince who would ride up and save them from themselves."
"You said..."
"I say lots of things I don't mean. As long as I get what I need."
I felt sick. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I sacrificed everything to be with him. Nobody's talking to me anymore. He's all I have right now.
"Did I do something wrong?" I asked. "I can change."
"No. You did everything I wanted."
"Then what is it? I love you."
He stood up and threw some money on the table. "You are pathetic. I'm giving you the extra fifty not to call me or see me ever again. You make my skin crawl. I've packed your things. You can pick them up later today."
"But..."
"Grow up."
He left and I was truly alone.
